Employment/HR Litigation Associate

Gould & Ratner LLP is seeking a Mid-Level Associate to join its Human Resources & Employment Law Practice. The ideal candidate will have significant experience with all aspects of employment litigation, human resources counseling and policy review, and employer training and educational programs. 

Candidates can look forward to gaining direct client interaction, business development experience, and significant responsibility on complex and sophisticated legal matters. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who is highly motivated and seeking a positive career trajectory.

This role allows a flexible work schedule with a hybrid remote and in-office presence.

Requirements

·       3-6 years of experience with both employment litigation and human resources counseling.

·       Experience researching and/or counseling employers on a variety of human resources-related topics, including accommodations for disabled or pregnant employees, the Family and Medical Leave Act, legal issues relating to potential employment terminations, investigating harassment complaints, wage & hour law and liability related to plant closings.

·       Strong litigation skills, including researching and writing legal memoranda, drafting complaints, motions and written discovery, taking depositions and preparing for trial. 

·       Experience assisting employers with training their workforces on employment-related topics, including harassment prevention, accommodating disabled employees and leadership/supervisory skills and risk management.

·       Experience drafting, reviewing and editing employee handbooks and other employment policies.

·       Experience negotiating and drafting executive employment agreements and restrictive covenant agreements.

·       Strong writing, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.

·       The ideal candidate has the ability to work as part of a team while also having the confidence and demeanor to assume individual responsibility for matters involving direct client interaction. This attorney will serve as business advisor to clients, guiding them in a full range of legal matters throughout their life cycle.

·       Candidates must be currently licensed in Illinois or licensed in another state with a UBE score that qualifies in Illinois for comity, be eligible to waive in, or be willing to sit for an upcoming IL bar exam (open to relocation candidates that meet these requirements).

About Our Human Resources & Employment Law Practice

Gould & Ratner’s Human Resources and Employment Law Practice advises company management on a broad array of employment matters and state and federal labor laws. We focus our practice on three core disciplines: (1) employment and benefits counseling, (2) employee training and educational programs, and (3) employment litigation.

Our lawyers regularly provide advice in a vast array of areas including:

·       Planned discharge decisions, including assessing risk and compliance with EEO law

·       Impact of labor and employment law issues on mergers and acquisitions

·       Legal compliance audits of human resources practices

·       Layoffs and reductions in force

·       Leave issues under the Family and Medical Leave Act, workers’ compensation law and the Americans with Disabilities Act

·       Requests for reasonable accommodation

·       Drafting and enforcing non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements

·       Investigating harassment complaints

·       Revising and updating employee handbooks

·       Securing I-9 compliance through internal audits

·       Strategies to ensure exemptions from the requirement of paying overtime

We have a long history of working closely with our clients’ general counsel and/or human resources professionals to proactively consult on a myriad of employment-related issues. Our team has all the resources needed to build a “best practices” human resources department and to minimize the risks of litigation. In addition to consulting on the latest human resources topics, our attorneys elevate human resources to the “C” suite, draft executive compensation agreements, and design and draft employee benefit plans.

Our team consists of a diverse group of trial attorneys focusing on all areas of complex commercial disputes for public and private companies, as well as business-related disputes for closely held and family businesses. We also represent employers in employment-based lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country and before various federal, state and local governmental agencies. We have handled and won cases involving all aspects of employment law, including:

·       Employment discrimination (race, national origin, age, disability, etc.)

·       Sexual harassment

·       Workers’ compensation retaliation

·       Enforcement of restrictive covenants

·       Breaches of fiduciary duty

·       Breaches of contract

·       Unfair labor practice charges

·       EEOC charges

·       Wage and hour

Benefits

• Opportunity to step into meaningful client relationships and be a key component of the Firm’s succession plan. This attorney will gain direct client interaction and significant responsibility on complex and sophisticated legal matters.
• Emphasis on professional and business development.
• Low turnover, collegial and collaborative environment.
• Healthcare (medical, vision, dental), life and disability insurance.
• Competitive compensation, benefits package, pension plan and a generous 401k plan.
• Paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Employee discounts (e.g., commuter benefits) and wellness programs (e.g., in-office gym and massages; 24/7 tele-medicine).
• Hybrid in-office/remote role.